Improving a process

Some people assume that technology can improve any process that is inefficient or broken.  While technology can be a great tool it is not always a silver bullet.  The process has to be effective.  If the process is producing errors or poor quality end products, technology may only help you make errors faster.

Take a power saw.  A power saw will allow me to cut boards in less time with less effort on my part as compared to a hand saw.  But the power saw will not prevent me from cutting a board short.  I have to understand what the board is for, how long it has to be, and the angle of the cut.  If not I will waste a lot of time and lumber trying to make one cut.  

To improve a process you can follow the DMAIC model.

• Define - define the problem. "There are too many errors or mistakes."   
• Measure - How many times do we perform rework?  How many widgets out of every hundred is flawed? 
• Analyze - analyze the data to see what the root cause of the problem is. Don't look to address symptoms, find the driver for the problem.
• Improve - now that you have your root cause, attack it and see what can be done to eliminate it by reorganizing the steps, workflow or staff across a process or looking at automation of specific steps through technology.
• Control - once you have improved a process keep an eye on any deviations so that you can correct them quickly before they become major problems.

Fixing a process may not always require technology. What is important is understanding the process, what should be accomplished by the process and the root cause of any inefficiencies or errors created through the process. This will go a long way to addressing problems in processes.